True North Copper widens Mt Oxide search with high-grade rock chips

• Northern rock chips strengthen the prospective Aquila-Chidna corridor
• Aquila drilling targets a maiden resource in mid-2027
• Vero extension drilling and fresh exploration targets are next

Special Report: True North Copper has extended its prospective Aquila-Chidna copper corridor beyond 4km with high-grade rock chips as drilling advances towards a maiden resource at its Mt Oxide project in North West Queensland.

Selective surface samples grading up to 3.01% and 2.38% copper came from Chidna North, about 2.5km north of Aquila, where True North Copper (ASX:TNC) has mapped a new 180m structural zone.

The company traces the structure about 2km south towards Aquila-Chidna and sees the results as evidence of further discovery potential along the broader corridor.

More than 1000m of Phase 2 drilling has been completed at Aquila, with first assays expected in December. The wider program targets 4000-6000m of drilling across Aquila and Vero by the end of the year, with a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate targeted for mid-2027.

Northern clues broaden the search

Chidna North’s mapped structure coincides with a historical copper-in-soil anomaly about 600m long and 50m wide.

The company sees geological and structural similarities with Aquila plus an association with the regionally significant Mount Gordon Fault Zone, and has more mapping, sampling and target assessment underway.

Earlier work established mineralisation across about 2.3km of Aquila-Chidna strike, with prospective structures already mapped farther north.

The latest chips add surface evidence within that northern search area, much of which remains untested by drilling.

“The latest high-grade rock-chip results have extended the prospective Aquila-Chidna corridor beyond 4km, highlighting the scale of the opportunity and potential for further copper discoveries across Mt Oxide,” managing director Andrew Mooney said.

Two paths to a larger resource base

At Aquila, eight prioritised holes totalling about 3110m will test extensions 70–100m below existing intercepts. Depth drilling tests potential growth, while infill drilling helps define the continuity needed for the planned maiden resource estimate.

TNC targets that estimate for mid-2027, subject to drilling results, geological modelling and resource-estimation requirements.

The discovery sits alongside Vero’s existing 15.03Mt at 1.46% copper and 10.59g/t silver resource, containing 220,000t copper and 5.13Moz silver at a 0.5% copper cut-off.

Vero drilling is planned to start in November. Two holes will test extensions beneath the resource and towards the emerging Mara zone, about 300m along strike, ahead of development studies planned for the second half of 2027.

An initial Aquila estimate could add a separate inventory to Mt Oxide, while successful Vero extensions could enlarge the established base there.

“Our focus is on converting this activity into tangible value through new discoveries, resource growth and advancing Mt Oxide towards future copper development opportunities,” Mooney said.

TNC is using the completed airborne geophysical survey and ongoing ground-based induced polarisation work to refine targets, with interpretation expected in November.

At Apollo, west of Aquila, three holes totalling about 659m have tested a parallel 2.2km geophysical trend, with assays pending.

TNC expects progressive Phase 2 assay releases from December through March 2027. Those results, surface sampling and geophysics will inform planning for its next drilling campaign.

This article was developed in collaboration with True North Copper, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.

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